Ironer, please see my post on http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=3496
as it was directed at people such as yourself.

davo,

It's true that Bashir only got a small amount of time for his part of the Bali bombings but if you want to hold political/religious leaders accountable then Bush, Blair and Howard should all be in jail. They are responsibile for the deaths of up to 100,000 people. It makes Bashir seem positively benevolent (in these terms Corby wouldn't hit the radar).

For those people who disagree with the presumption of guilt. Imagine you are falsely accused of rape (remember, some feminists claim up to 99% of women are rape victims)and are in court. Then read the article about rape laws in NSW and try to image how you could get anything close to a fair trial.

http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/05/22/1116700591974.html

Yes posters, you are all right in what you say, but Phillo (sorry if i've mispelt) are right on the nail. Corby is no different to a lot of other people under the gun of indonesian law. Which is, (and we're all experts of indonesian law thanks to Schapelle)so different to Westminster law, which certainly has its flaws, however, unless you can point the finger at someone else under Indonesian law, you cop the lot. A very narrow jurisdiction that was proved during Corby's trial and the subsequent sentence. One baggage handler would have got her off the hook. I think we should call for a complete investigation into our airport security - obviously the buck started there, maybe for her and a lot of others. Quite frankly, there is no way I would go to Bali again, not because of their laws, but because of being so easily set up in Australia and THEN being subject to Indonesian law.

I know that Schappelle's case has attracted more than its fair share of attention, but maybe it's taken her case to realise it's happening and has to others, and could happen to us. It has also highlighted perhaps that other countries do have different ways of seeing (and judging) stupid things that human beings do. Regardless of Johnny howard, we're still a rather marvellous country. I just can't condone a govt that can't find a criminal of their own militia in East Timor, but can sentence little drug dealers to death. Hope the judge sleeps alright at night.

The fallout and injustice of laws against marijuana have come home to roost in the case of Schapelle Corby.

The ridiculous Indonesian law gave 20 years to the young woman for being the victim of a drug trafficking operation.

In Alabama in the United States Schapelle Corby would not only have gotten the same sentence she received in Indonesia but she would also have gotten if she were carrying a handbag or a shirt made of hemp.

Marijuana has been attacked for decades as a result of intense lobbying by the United States and now the Australian cotton industry.

Hemp is similar to marijuana. The fibers from hemp produce a superior fabric to cotton both in insulation value, ability to carry color and durability.

To demonize hemp marijuana has been heaped up with social ills that it never caused.

As a result ridiculous laws are in place in the United States that put men and women in jail for smuggling drugs when they are moving hemp seed or hemp products without a license.

Australia’s cotton industry is controlled by American interests and much of the cotton is exported to Indonesia for their cheap labor textile industry. The laws have spread.

The crime of putting Schapelle Corby in jail is dwarfed by the crime of keeping reasonably pricedc clothing off the market. If you want Schapelle Corby released nearly immediately - put the blame where it belongs - on the cotton industry and watch as she is released with lightning speed.

On my only two trips to Bali I've had to bribe officials to stay out of trouble.On my first trip,I didn't have an international licence for a motor cycle.It wasn't a matter of paying an official fine,but a cash donation to a particular police officer.On my second visit we were on our way to Aboud in a bus when we were stopped by the police and a collection was taken from all passengers so we could reach our destination.Comments from the bus driver,"It's OK he's my brother in law, we have to pay."

Indonesia functions on corruption.This is one of the major reasons for their poverty,since there is no real motivation to turn up and do a really hard,honest day's work.

The judge who convicted Schapelle today,has adjudicated on 500 trials and found all to be guilty.How is this possible?

The reality is that if you don't bribe the judge before you go to court,you will be found guilty.

Schapelle's case was high profile and if she had enough money and the nauce to bribe the officials before it all became public,she would be a free woman today.Nothing about this case adds up.If really guilty,she has got to be the most stupid drug trafficker on this planet.

I agree Di - I can find something with which I agree in all the posts on this thread. In particular, I'm delighted to be able to agree 100% with Arjay's last post. It concurs completely with my own experience of Indonesia.

While I'm certainly sympathetic with Cranston's perspective, I think that it's a bit facile to compare the unavailability of hemp clothing with what appears to be a travesty of justice in the case of Schapelle Corby.

My own view is that she is most likely the innocent but unfortunate victim of someone else's criminal behaviour, but that in itself is insufficient for her to be found not guilty by the court on the evidence before it. I think that is why the Australian government is taking unprecedented steps in the background to try and assist Schapelle Corby's appeal and/or transfer to an Australian prison.